Where to Eat on Maui: Star Noodle

**Update: As of 4/30/13, Sheldon Simeon is no longer Chef at Star Noodle, so it’s possible some of the menu items may change. No word yet on his next permanent spot, although he’s done collaborations at Vintage Cave and various other appearances in the months following his departure.

I was born and raised on Maui, so I’m often asked for recommendations when people visit the island. Some of my favorite things, I’ll always mention – like watching the sunrise on Haleakala, or stopping for dry mein at Sam Sato’s. However when it comes to new restaurants or hot spots, I’m often a bit out of the loop since I’ve lived on Oahu for over a decade now.

But sometimes it’s just impossible to ignore the buzz, and Star Noodle was one of the places that kept coming up in conversations with foodie friends. So I knew that on this trip to Maui, we had to make a stop there to check it out.
I have to say that I am so happy we did!!

Star Noodle is a bit out of the way at the back of an industrial area, and unless you’re heading there specifically, it is unlikely that you’d just pass by the area. So by all means, grab a few friends and set your GPS. The appetizers were the standouts for me, and they are best shared family-style alongside a few noodle dishes. And don’t forget the cocktail menu, especially if you like sake.

Some of the my family’s favorites were:

One of the dishes everyone recommended was the Steamed Pork Buns ($10 for three) – Duroc Pressed Pork, Hoisin, Shiitake, Cucumber. They can add on extras so everyone in the party can get their own. (If you like pork, you will not want to share!)Pohole Salad ($8) – Hana Fiddlehead Fern, Maui Onion, Ebi, Konbu. This is a local favorite and pohole ferns are showing up on farm-to-table menus across the islands lately. I loved the subtle sesame flavoring with this one.Filipino Bacon & Eggs ($12) – Crispy Pork Belly, 62 degree Egg, Tomato, Onion. This was one our waitress suggested and probably my favorite dish. Served on a sizzling platter, you break the yolk of the egg into the dish so it’s lightly scrambled to pick up the flavors from the pork belly. Heaven!

>> For all of our drool-worthy photos from our trip to Star Noodle, head over to my photo album on the Shoyu Sugar Facebook Page.

Thanks for reading Timothy! I have heard great things about Leoda’s, and meat & potato pie is right up my alley. My family brought a couple of their more traditional pies over to the hotel so I got a little taste, but I definitely plan to stop in personally the next time I’m on Maui. Mahalo for the tip! =)